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Grossular

Big Photo

Bellecombe, Châtillon, Aosta Valley, Italy
© D. Preite - M.C.

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Formula:
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
System:IsometricColour:Brown, orange, red, ...
Hardness:6½ - 7
Name:Named for the green color of gooseberries (Ribes grossularium) because the original specimens were this color.


Garnet Group.
Grossular-Hibschite Series, the Grossular-Katoite Series, and the Grossular-Uvarovite Series, Pyrope-Grossular Series.

Classification of Grossular

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.08-70
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AD.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.4.3b.2

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
4 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in [6] and >[6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.9.6

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
9 : Aluminosilicates of Ca
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Type Occurrence of Grossular

Type Locality:Akhtaragda River mouth (Achtaragda River mouth), Vilyui River Basin (Vilui River Basin; Wilui River Basin), Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia

Occurrences of Grossular

Geological Setting:Contact and regionally metamorphosed calcareous rocks.

Physical Properties of Grossular

Lustre:Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Brown, orange, red, yellow, green, white, colorless
Comment:Colorless when pure (rare), commonly red orange to brown.
Streak:White to pale Brownish white
Hardness (Mohs):6½ - 7
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Parting:Rarely observed on {110}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.594 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.594 g/cm3

Crystallography of Grossular

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Ia3d {I41/a 3 2/d}
Cell Parameters:a = 11.851Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,664.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Dodecahedra or trapezohedra, granular, compact, massive. May have hexoctahedral faces. Rarely tetrahexahedral or octahedral.
Twinning:Not observed
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
2.959 (25)
2.647 (100)
2.417 (20)
2.321 (18)
1.921 (25)
1.643 (25)
1.581 (50)

Optical Data of Grossular

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 1.731 - 1.754
Birefringence:0.0-0.005
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:High
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic
Comments:Weak strain birefringence

Chemical Properties of Grossular

Formula:
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
Essential elements:Al, Ca, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, O, Si
Analytical Data:RI increases with increasing iron contents (usually Fe3+)
Common Impurities:Fe,Cr
Relationship of Grossular to other Species
Series:Forms a series with Andradite (see here)
Forms a series with Uvarovite (see here)
Forms a series with Hibschite (see here)
Forms a series with Katoite (see here)
Forms a series with Pyrope (see here)
Member of:Garnet Group
Common Associates:
ClinochloreClinochloreVesuvianiteDiopsideCalcite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- + 
9.AD.05Larnite
Ca
 
2
SiO
 
4
9.AD.10Calcio-Olivine
Ca
 
2
SiO
 
4
9.AD.15Merwinite
Ca
 
3
Mg(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
9.AD.20Bredigite
Ca
 
7
Mg(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
9.AD.25Andradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Almandine
Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Calderite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Goldmanite
Ca
 
3
V
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Henritermierite
Ca
 
3
(Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.AD.25Hibschite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
6-1
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1.5-2.5
]
9.AD.25Hydroandradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3-x
(OH)
 
4x
9.AD.25Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
9.AD.25Kimzeyite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
[(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Knorringite
Mg
 
3
Cr
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Majorite
Mg
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Si,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Morimotoite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
 (?)
9.AD.25Pyrope
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Schorlomite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Spessartine
Mn
2+
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Uvarovite
Ca
 
3
Cr
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.25Wadalite
Ca
 
6
(Al,Mg)
 
4
[Cl
 
3
|O
 
4
|{(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
}
 
3
]
9.AD.25Holtstamite
Ca
 
3
(Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.AD.25Kerimasite
Ca
 
3
Zr
 
2
(Fe
3+
2
Si)O
 
12
9.AD.25Toturite
Ca
 
3
Sn
 
2
(Fe
 
2
Si)O
 
12
9.AD.25Momoiite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
V
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.30Coffinite
(U,Th)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.30Hafnon
HfSiO
 
4
9.AD.30Thorite
(Th,U)SiO
 
4
9.AD.30Thorogummite
(Th,U)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.30Zircon
ZrSiO
 
4
9.AD.30Stetindite
CeSiO
 
4
9.AD.35Huttonite
ThSiO
 
4
9.AD.35Tombarthite-(Y)
Y
 
4
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.40Eulytine
Bi
 
4
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.45Reidite
ZrSiO
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- + 
16.9.1Gehlenite
Ca
 
2
Al[AlSiO
 
7
]
16.9.2Anorthite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
16.9.3Yoshiokaite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O
 
4
]
16.9.4Svyatoslavite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
16.9.5Dmisteinbergite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
16.9.7Vuagnatite
CaAl[OH|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.8Zoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.9Clinozoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.10Prehnite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
16.9.11Kamaishilite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.12Bicchulite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.13Margarite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.9.14Chantalite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.15Cebollite
Ca
 
5
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
 
4
 or near
16.9.17Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
16.9.18Lawsonite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
16.9.19Parthéite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
 · 2H
 
2
O
16.9.20Wairakite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.9.21Vertumnite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
24
 · 3H
 
2
O
16.9.22Scolecite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
16.9.23Laumontite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
 · 4H
 
2
O
16.9.24Yugawaralite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
16.9.25Gismondine-Ca
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
 · 4H
 
2
O
16.9.26Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 5H
 
2
O
16.9.27Goosecreekite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
16.9.28Cowlesite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
 · 6H
 
2
O
16.9.30Stellerite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
16.9.31Strätlingite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
SiO
 
7
 · 8H
 
2
O
16.9.32Amstallite
CaAl(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
4
 · (H
 
2
O,Cl)
Other Names for Grossular
Synonyms:
ColophoniteErniteGarnet JadeGooseberry-GarnetGrossular Garnet
GrossulariteKalkthongranatKanelsteinOlyntholitePechgranat
RomanzoviteSouth African JadeTellemarkiteWiluite (of Severgin)
Other Languages:
Dutch:Grossulaar
French:Grossulaire
Wilouite
German:Colophonit
Ernit
Grossularit
Kolophonit
Olyntholit
Rumanzowit
Rumjanzowit
Tellemarkit
Viluit
Wilouit
Hungarian:Grosszulár
Italian:Grossularia
Lithuanian:Grosuliaras
Polish:Grossular
Russian:Гроссуляр
Spanish:Grosularia
Colophonita
Ernita
Grossularita
Olyntholita
Tellemarkita
Viluita
Wilouita
Ukrainian:Гросуляр
Varieties:
African jadeChromian GrossularHessoniteMagnesian GrossularManganoan Grossular
PlazoliteRosoliteTsavorite
Other Information
Fluorescence in UV light:Almost always non-fluorescent; may be a weak golden yellow (LW & SW)
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Grossular
Reference List:Klaproth, M.H. (1807): Chemische Untersuchung des olivgrünen Granats aus Sibirien, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Vierter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 319-324



Hofmeister, A.M. and Chopelas, A. (1991) Thermodynamic properties of pyrope and grossular from vibrational spectroscopy. American Mineralogist: 76: 880-891.



Cho, H. and Rossman, G.R. (1993) Single-crystal NMR studies of low-concentration hydrous species in minerals: grossular garnet. American Mineralogist: 78: 1149-1164.



Stalder, A. and Aufdenblatten, M. (1995) Granat (Grossular) aus dem Täschtal VS. Schweizer Strahler: 10: 267-279.



American Mineralogist (1997): 82: 740-747.



Wang, L., Essene, E.J., and Zhang, Y. (2000) Direct observation of immiscibility in pyrope-almandine-grossular garnet. American Mineralogist: 85: 41-46.



Milke, R. (2004) Spiral growth of grossular under hydrothermal conditions. American Mineralogist: 89: 211-218.



Rodehorst, U., Carpenter, M.A., Boffa Ballaran T., and Geiger, C.A. (2004) Local structural heterogeneity, mixing behaviour and saturation effects in the grossular-spessartine solid solutions. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 31: 387-404.
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